Taking care of a garden can bring many surprises…

Synopsis

When Clara Bowes transforms a wilderness of a garden, she isn’t expecting to reconnect with someone special from her past at the same time. Having Rory Angel in her life again is a dream come true. But life is never straight forward – especially in matters of the heart – and soon, a devastating revelation looks set to bring Clara’s hopes for the future crashing down around her. Will she find the strength to reach for her dreams?

My review

Clara Bowes is determined to take care of her grandmother’s beloved garden while her grandmother is in the hospital.
What Clara didn’t expect, is that while working in that same garden, she would reconnect with the man who she had a crush on like forever, Rory Angel.
For Clara, it’s a dream coming true, as Rory finally sees her. But while Clara is getting high hopes, a revelation quickly crashes all her hopes…

Before I started to read this book (interpret as: devour), I made sure I was comfortable, had everything I would need nearby, made sure my tablet was fully charged and I had a big smile on my face as I was happy to return to a place I love. 

Obviously, I immediately liked Clara. And there are so many reasons for me liking her. I see so much of myself in her, as I don’t like to be in the centre of attention, or even standing in a big group of people make me feel uncomfortable.
But just because she is so kind, loving and caring.
Even if she isn’t known for taking good care of plants, she knows how much the garden means to her grandmother. And that is enough for Clara to start cleaning up that garden.
But also how she looks after her little brother Bertie, as Bertie’s mother won’t go winning any award for best mother.
Clara has given up her own dreams, for the people she loves, so how can you not like someone like that? 

And seeing how Clara and Rory meet each other again, well, I was rooting for them straight away! These two characters go way back, and I found it sweet to see how a younger Clara started to develop a crush on Rory. And I could for sure understand her! 

But then the author adds a twist in the story, which I didn’t like at all. And I hope Rosie will forgive me, but I got actual angry for a moment because that was not how the story was supposed to go!
The more I was reading after that twist, the more I saw my opinion change for some characters.
I am not going to say too much over here, but one character I didn’t complete dislike, and even liked a little bit, turned into someone I completely disliked.
And because of that twist, I realized that that one person wasn’t so likeable at all. I started to see more selfish actions, and how Clara to keep the peace just went along with it.
Although it breaks my heart to admit this, also Rory wasn’t my favourite person anymore…  

Now, I know this is the first part of a series, and I have all the faith in this amazing author that things will turn for the better for Clara, as there were already several glimpses of it. I am sure that in the bigger picture Clara will find her happiness and even her courage.
But Rosie will have a lot to answer for if Clara doesn’t!  

Being part of a series also means that I was utterly disappointed when I reached the end of the first book, as it left me with so many questions. Disappointed because now I have to wait (and I am not know for my patience) for the second part! 

But don’t get me wrong, I got angry, disappointed and frustrated. But I also loved getting to know Clara, see myself in her, and admire her for the lengths she goes for those who matter to her. And also how she understands what goes around in the mind of a shy girl and uses her own experience to help.
And while in first instance I didn’t get the link with the Little Duck Pond Café, I can assure you that our beloved played a part in this book too, and I am sure they will also in the next ones.